So far, with around 25 percent of votes counted, Iceland’s Social Democrats are appearing as clear winners and appear to be exceeding opinion poll expectations. The Left Green Movement is running in second place, albeit with fewer votes than polls had predicted.
Together the two parties have a 52 or 53 percent parliamentary majority.
The conservative Independence Party are having a poor evening, as the polls foretold. The Independence Party leader predicts, however, that tonight is a damage limitation exercise and will provide the background to a comeback next time around.
The new Citizens’ Movement is exceeding already high expectations with a share of the vote approaching ten percent.
More to follow.
From the results we see clear NO vote for EU membership. This is good.
What I found interesting (unless I’m interpreting this incorrectly), is that voter turnout was significantly lower than the elections in 2007 (see http://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alþingiskosningarnar_2007), where it was more than 80% in contrast to the 33% today.
Please ignore the previous comment. Apparently I spoke too soon; the vote count I was looking at wasn’t updated that recently.
Watching this with my wife and some beers and Pizza. so far what we´ve seen…
1) My wife going “How the f**K are the progressives doing so well? their leader looks like a zombie freak!”
2) Left-Greens not doing AS well so far. Possibly due to their anti EU stance (depite softening ti over the past week). THerfor vote being split by People going to the social democrats for this…
3) And the Citizens Movement. These guys have come from nothing and in 2 months are liekly to get 3-5 seats in parliament. Considering they have a fraction of the budget of the other parites (i.e.- no dirty money from any other corporations yet) this is pretty major for Iceland.
4)Bjarni Ben looks sick as parrot. not surprising really as it´s not all his fault and he is governing a prty of greedy f*ckwits. Still wouldn´t trust him with a kitten much less a country though…
%) RUV´s coverage is pretty crap and boring. Plus they got some guy as one of their pundits who looks like one of the street alcoholics you see at Lækjartorg!
Thanks Icelandbob! I am almoust choked in my beer while reading your great report. It was hilarious! Don’t know who are the people who you mention, but have to check out.. at least that sick parrot! Going to google his picture just now..
So… I am guy in Las Vegas airport. I am here spending my time and waiting flights to Great Iceland… coming there bcs of a woman (what else in bankrupt iceland could even drive me there). Anyway, your country is interesting. I am trying to understand all the shit that is happening there, bcs seems I gonna be living there..
Let’s see, at least lot of interesting stuff happening there. If something new is happening, please post your report..
Balkanson – how do you say this is a vote against EU? S, O and B listers are all pro-EU aren’t they? That makes 34 pro EU MPs and 29 in parties that aren’t pro EU
@Balkanson
Err, how do you work that one out?
Granted the last major poll showed 2/3rd´s of the country were against joining the EU, but the only party that has come outright and said that Iceland should join the EU (The social Democrats) got the highest amount of the vote.
What this vote means is acutally nothing. A lot of people would still need to be persuaded re: The EU, but you could argue that there is the beginning of a change in attitude, notedly that people are starting to realise that while it is far from perfect, the EU is probably our ONLY decent bet for stability to the country…